The Hard Saying of Jesus

Matthew 16:24-27

Why must a cross be a part of my Christian Life?

1. The Context - Matthew 16:24-27

Peter Exalted Conession (16)

Jesus Informs His Discipiles that He must suffer, be rejected and killed, but will rise again (21)

Peter rebukes Jesus, trying to remove the cross from Jesus Ministry and Mission (22)

The Cross is Vital to God's Plans, thought Satan wants to convince men otherwise (23)

The cross was only used as the romans means of inflicting the death penalty.

The cross meant one thing to Jesus and to His generation: DEATH

Every disciple must daily choose to experiance multiple deaths in order to be empowered as a follower of Jesus Christ. (24-26)

2. The Cross in Jesus' Life

Self Denial - "..Not My Will, but your wll be done." Luke 22:42

Surrender - "..Not My Will, but your wll be done." Luke 22:42

Service - "The Son... Did noy come to be served, but to serve" Matthew 20:28a

Sacrifice - "...and to give his life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28b

3. The Cross in our Life.
Self Denial - "Not my Will"

Abandon our Selfish Ambitions
Reject our "me-first" life.
Prioritize Holiness over Happiness.

Surrender - "Your will be done"

Enthrone Jesus as Lord
Embrace a "God-First" Life
Embrace God's Will - Above my desires

More Next week...